More than 500,000 doctors have registered with Shenzhen's new online hospital to provide patients with medical services such as online registration, doctor consultation, and electronic prescriptions.

Image: Sohu.com

National statistics show that among China's more than 7 billion annual outpatient visits, nearly 60 percent are return visits and at least two-thirds of the return visits could be done online, according to Luo Ningzheng, CEO of 91160.com.

​In response, 91160.com, an online hospital registration platform, and Yunshan Medical have worked together to obtain China's first business license for an online hospital named as 91160-Yunshan Medical Online Hospital. Currently the two companies are developing the hospital's app, WeChat account and website, through which patients will be able to use online medical services.​ This move can help reduce visits for hospital-goers, allowing people to manage their problems at home.

Image: BWPI

Ideally, Luo hopes to integrate his online hospital with brick-and-mortar hospitals, allowing patients to have online consultations with doctors via video calls and to get e-prescriptions for medical device-aided checkups or surgeries at traditional hospitals or clinics. Other anticipated services include online payment and medicine delivery and drug usage advice.